High volume, low pressure exhaust system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12477698-B1
Application number	US-202318332545-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 9, 2023
Priority date	Jun 9, 2023
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

An exhaust system that utilizes high volume, low speed (HVLS) fans for exhausting air from data storage facilities (e.g., data centers) is disclosed. The exhaust system includes modular exhaust devices that may be positioned on curb structures on a roof of the facility. The modular exhaust devices are positioned vertically above the HVLS fans with openings in the roof vertically between the fans and the devices. The modular exhaust devices include a v-shaped conduit to direct air to openings on either side of the v-shaped conduit. Butterfly dampers may be placed on the openings in the modular exhaust devices to inhibit rain from entering the facility when the fans are off or at low speeds that don't prevent rain from entering the facility.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An exhaust system for a data center, comprising:
a rectangular support structure attached to an opening in a roof of a data center, wherein the rectangular support structure includes four vertical sidewalls surrounding an opening substantially similar in size to the opening in the roof; a modular exhaust device, wherein the modular exhaust device includes:
first and second rectangular substructures, each substructure having two rectangular cross-section openings vertically through the substructure; and
a v-shaped conduit positioned between the first and second rectangular substructures, wherein the v-shaped conduit is positioned vertically below an upper surface of the rectangular support structure;
wherein the rectangular substructures and the v-shaped conduit extend from a first sidewall of the rectangular support structure to a second sidewall of the rectangular support structure opposite the first sidewall, wherein the v-shaped conduit is positioned at or near a middle portion between a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall of the rectangular support structure, the third and fourth sidewalls being orthogonal to the first and second sidewalls;
a first pair of butterfly dampers coupled to the first rectangular substructure, each damper being positioned above one of the rectangular cross-section openings; and a second pair of butterfly dampers coupled to the second rectangular substructure, each damper being positioned above one of the rectangular cross-section openings; wherein the butterfly dampers include:
a first rectangular panel; and
a second rectangular panel;
wherein a lower edge of the second panel is pivotably coupled to a lower edge of the first panel lengthwise along the lower edges, the lower edges being coupled to the rectangular substructures, wherein the lower edges are oriented parallel to the third and fourth sides of the rectangular support structure, and wherein the lower edges are positioned lengthwise across a middle portion of the rectangular cross-section openings in the rectangular substructures such that the panels are capable of pivoting up and down relative to the lower edges based on a pressure of airflow outwards through the rectangular cross-section openings; and
drain conduits placed through the first and second sidewalls of the rectangular support structure at each end of the v-shaped conduit.

2 . The exhaust system of claim 1 , further comprising a high volume, low speed fan coupled to the opening in the roof of the data center.

3 . The exhaust system of claim 2 , wherein the fan is positioned inside the data center vertically below the rectangular support structure, and wherein blades of the fan extend to an outer diameter substantially similar to a diameter of the opening in the roof.

4 . The exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein a pivot angle of the panels is determined based on the pressure of airflow outwards through the rectangular cross-section openings versus a weight of the panels.

5 . The exhaust system of claim 1 , wherein walls of the v-shaped conduit are oriented at an angle of about 30 degrees from vertical to direct airflow through the rectangular cross-section openings in the rectangular substructures.

6 . An exhaust device for a computer data storage facility, comprising:
a rectangular structure configured to be placed on a curb structure positioned over an opening in a roof of a computer data storage facility, wherein the rectangular structure includes a pair of outside portions separated by a middle portion, wherein the middle portion includes:
a v-shaped conduit extending vertically below a lower surface of the outside portions of the rectangular structure;
wherein the outside portions include:
at least one butterfly damper coupled to an upper surface of each of the outside portions of the rectangular structure, each damper being positioned above a rectangular cross-section opening in the outside portions; and
wherein the butterfly dampers include:
a pair of rectangular panels pivotably coupled along their lower edges and to the upper surface of the outside portions of the rectangular structure, wherein the rectangular panels are oriented perpendicular to the v-shaped conduit.

7 . The exhaust device of claim 6 , wherein the exhaust device is configured to be positioned over the opening in the roof and above a high volume, low speed fan coupled to the opening in the roof of the computer data storage facility.

8 . The exhaust device of claim 7 , wherein the exhaust device is configured to be positioned vertically above the fan.

9 . The exhaust device of claim 6 , wherein the rectangular structure has a width and a length of at least 8 feet.

10 . The exhaust device of claim 6 , wherein the rectangular panels are capable of pivoting up and down relative to the lower edges based on a pressure of airflow outwards through the rectangular cross-section openings in the outside portions.

11 . The exhaust device of claim 10 , wherein a pivot angle of the rectangular panels is determined based on the pressure of airflow outwards through the rectangular cross-section openings versus a weight of the rectangular panels.

12 . The exhaust device of claim 6 , wherein the pair of rectangular panels are pivotably coupled lengthwise along their lower edges.

13 . The exhaust device of claim 6 , further comprising a wind protection band coupled to the rectangular structure and positioned around the butterfly dampers.

14 . The exhaust device of claim 13 , wherein a gap exists between the wind protection band and the butterfly dampers to allow fluid drainage through the gap.

15 . The exhaust device of claim 13 , further comprising coupling one or more layers of acoustic insulation to inner walls of the wind protection band.

16 . The exhaust device of claim 6 , wherein the v-shaped conduit includes drain conduits at ends of the v-shaped conduit, the drain conduits being configured to extend through sidewalls of the curb structure when the rectangular structure is placed in position on the curb structure.

17 . An exhaust system for a computer data storage facility, comprising:
a plurality of curb structures attached to an opening in a roof of a computer data storage facility, wherein the curb structures include four vertical sidewalls surrounding openings substantially similar in size to the openings in the roof; a plurality of rectangular structures configured to be placed on the curb structures, wherein the rectangular structures include pairs of outside portions separated by middle portions, wherein at least one middle portion includes:
a v-shaped conduit extending vertically below a lower surface of the outside portions of the rectangular structure;
wherein the outside portions corresponding to the at least one middle portion include:
a pair of butterfly-shaped dampers coupled to an upper surface of the outside portions of the rectangular structure, each damper being positioned above a rectangular cross-section opening in the outside portions; and
wherein the butterfly-shaped dampers include:
a pair of rectangular panels pivotably coupled along their lower edges and to the upper surface of the outside portions of the rectangular structure, wherein the rectangular panels are oriented perpendicular to the v-shaped conduit.

18 . The exhaust system of claim 17 , wherein the curb structures and the rectangular structures are aligned in parallel along a first axis on the roof of the data storage facility.

19 . The exhaust sys

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Gangemi Matthew
• Brewe Ian

Classifications

• F24F2110/40

  Pressure, e.g. wind pressure · CPC title

• F24F7/025

  with forced air circulation by means of a built-in ventilator · CPC title

• F24F13/1413 Primary

  using more than one tilting member, e.g. with several pivoting blades (F24F13/15 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/20745 Primary

  within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device · CPC title

• H05K7/20181

  Filters; Louvers · CPC title